Darkmoor Read Online Free PDF Page B

Catherine’s gaze.
    But Matthew’s eyes appeared hard and cold towards her. A sense of dejection was written all over his face.
    “Look around us, Catherine. Do you really think anyone else would live here?” Matthew spoke sternly.
    Removing her hand off his shoulders, Catherine stepped back as she felt her eyes fill with tears.
    The wind gradually blew stronger. The sound of bare tree branches chattered together and the ground underfoot was like a mud bath. As the silence descended around them both, Matthew reached out for Catherine’s hand.
    “I’m sorry Catherine, it’s not your fault.” His eyes softened and he smiled at her.
    “Come on,” he continued, “we can’t stay here, let’s try and find some shelter.”
    Together they walked along the river bank, their feet squelching in the mud.
    “This is so horrible,” Catherine whined as the mud started crawling over her white pumps, then camouflaging itself against her black leggings.
    “I know,” Matthew replied looking down at his soggy clothes.
    They walked along the river for what felt like miles. Their bodies shivered uncontrollably in the cold air. The moon shone through the broken trees casting ghostly shadows upon the ground. Fearfully, Matthew and Catherine shifted their eyes from left to right as they continued deep into the unknown.
    “I really hate this, Matthew,” Catherine shivered as she clung tightly onto his hand.
    As the moonlight moved across the ground a tiny light flashed, then faded. Catching Matthew and Catherine’s attention, they waited for another flash to appear.
    Eventually, as the moon hovered over the ground, again the tiny light glistened out. This time it seemed more powerful, coaxing Matthew and Catherine to investigate.
    Moving nervously closer, the white light flashed on and off.
    Twinkling in the moonlight, laying flat down on top of the mud, was a silver hoop. It sparkled like jewellery and Catherine’s eyes widened with curiosity as Matthew reached down to retrieve it.
    Suddenly, realising what Matthew was about to do, Catherine shouted “Stop!”
    “What!” Matthew replied standing to attention.
    “Have you forgotten what happened the last time you held something?” Catherine said sarcastically. “I’ll pick it up,” Catherine smiled as she brushed past him. Then, taking a deep breath she carefully wrapped her fingers around the object.
    “Hum,” she frowned, “it appears to be stuck! I think we’ll have to dig it free.”
    Without hesitation, Matthew put his hands into the mud, “Well, come on!”
    Kneeling down in the moist mud they started to dig. Bits of soggy mud spat up into their faces.
    As they continued, they began to uncover some metal bars which extended out from the silver hoop. Finally, freeing the whole object from the mud, Catherine and Matthew could now truly appreciate their hidden treasure.
    “Wow!” They admired.
    Lying sideways across the ground was the silver bird cage Catherine had admired earlier at the car boot sale, and sitting perfectly still on her perch, was the dove.
    Her brilliant white coat, despite her muddy surroundings, was spotless and warming. Looking up to inspect her rescuers, the dove immediately recognised the two youngsters and softly cooed graciously towards them.
    Matthew carefully lifted the cage out of the mud and held it up. Dove’s glorious white light cascaded like a waterfall down from her head and out of her feathers. It fell gracefully around her delicate toes and stretched out to cover, Catherine and Matthew.
    Placing the cage gently back on the ground, the dove hopped off her perch and pushed her delicate beak along the metal bars. Anxiously, Matthew turned the tiny silver door knob and placed his hand into the cage.
    While Catherine held her breath, (remembering the last bird that she and Matthew had helped), the dove brushed her soft, silk feathers along Matthew’s hand.
    “Come on it’s ok. I won’t hurt you,” Matthew spoke softly,